Irish consumers who regularly snap up bargain buys online could soon find that cheap shopping is no longer quite so cheap. 

A new €3 customs charge on low-value parcels arriving from outside the European Union is due to come into effect from July 1, adding an extra cost to millions of purchases from popular retailers in Britain, China and the United States.  

Business representatives say the move could encourage more people to shop locally, while consumers accustomed to low-cost fashion, electronics and household goods may see the overall cost of online bargains begin to rise. 

To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Margaret O’Brien Chamber, Ennis Chamber CEO, and Pat Clarke Browne, Munster Business in Shannon.

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